Depression decisions — 2023

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for depressive disorder and lumbar spine disability have been denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 70% for her depressive disorder, effective December 18, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected depression with PTSD was granted a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran also received TDIU benefits from March 29, 2007 to July 22, 2009.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder prior to April 13, 2016 resulted in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's psychiatric disabilities to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his neurological disorder, including as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's neurobehavioral effects are more likely related to dementia and polysubstance abuse than to exposure to contaminated water.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service exposure to hazardous noise.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.,There is no evidence that the Veteran has a left elbow disability that began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,There is no evidence that the Veteran has a neck disability that began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder) are not related to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including dysthymia, major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's rating for depressive disorder was restored to 70%, and her TDIU rating was reinstated. The reduction from 70% to 30% was found improper, as there was no actual improvement in the disability that would justify such a reduction.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for TBI was granted, and he is now entitled to a grant of service connection. His left knee disability remains rated at 20 percent. The increased rating claim for his left knee disability was denied. Service connection claims for depression secondary to TBI, right knee patellar tendon rupture as secondary to service-connected left knee disability and/or TBI, and bilateral hearing loss were all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete compliance with previous instructions and requests for verification of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety and depressive disorders due to a medical condition was granted with an effective date of December 13, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns raised by the parties regarding the Veteran's unemployability prior to March 14, 2017, and a referral for extraschedular TDIU consideration is required.

A 30 percent rating for asthma is granted, separate from a rating for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The appeals seeking reopening of a prior final denial of service connection for memory loss; service connection for fatigue, bilateral hearing loss, and hernia; increased ratings greater than 10 percent each for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome and residuals of right fifth metatarsal fracture; and an earlier effective date than May 23, 2018, for the grants of service connection for left and right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome, lumbosacral strain, hypertension, tension headaches, right and left shoulder strain with glenohumeral joint instability, and asthma are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, has been reopened. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as earlier effective dates, due to prior decisions in a previous appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, was denied. The Board found that there were no verified stressor events in service to support the claimed conditions. The Veteran's hearing loss condition also did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent prior to January 16, 2020 for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms were most closely approximate to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent from January 16, 2020 for PTSD was also denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms were most closely approximate to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for various disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if VA followed proper procedures in scheduling his examinations, which could affect the assigned effective dates.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient verification of in-service stressors.